Round Table India (RTI), a non-profit organisation which has tie-ups with several state governments, will build 500 school blocks across the country in the next five years. RTI will engage in the project in association with a central government program, “Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan”.

RTI has been implementing “Freedom Through Education” (FTE) since last 12 years and they have dedicated around 1250 school blocks so far. According to a report by World literacy Foundation, illiteracy has been costing Indian economy around $53 billion annually. There is income imbalance to the tune of 30 percent to 42 percent between a literate and an illiterate person. FTE is aimed at correcting this imbalance.

RTI was formed in 1962 and this is the golden jubilee year. The target for this year is for building 107 school blocks with a view to promote education in areas lacking educational infrastructure. The organisation identifies areas lacking infrastructure, then provides the basic schooling infrastructure before handing them over to the government school administration.

The organisation will inaugurate a 12-classroom school block at Hooghly’s Begampur today.